[13th Division][Shikai Mission] A slippery slope

[Maeko Saionji]

Maeko watched silently as the hollow was dispatched. The reiatsu dissipated into nothing, as the rain finally stopped. Maeko squinted slightly as the sun became visible once more through the departing clouds.

"Good work."

Maeko looked around at the debris around them. The blast of new-found reiatsu had blown back the thick mud, so that they were standing in a dip in the earth.

"Now to finish the job we already started. Lets get the rest of these people out, ok?"

He moved over to the remains of one house, where she could hear muffled scratching.

[Jaggy-J Yamato]

Jag started shifting the rubble which was trapping the source of the scratching.

"Man ! This is boring !"

Is it, now ? I'm suppose you are exhausted shifting all the debris around here.

" Ha Ha Ha !!!! Very Funny !!!"

"Shut up will you !!!! Sorry Maeko-san, Yamato's bugging me. He's still immature."

"Oh look ! The baby is complaining !!! Is the world too harsh for ya ?"

You want me to come down and kick you hard ? Wait !!! Quiet !! Someone's there inside !!!

Jag saw a hand peeping from inside the heap. He cleared off the top with a kick and caught the hand, and then he pulled the person out.

[Maeko Saionji]

Maeko laughed softly at Jaggy's outburst, remembering fondly her first days with Ochi.

You were stupider then.
And you were as rude then as you are now...
Haaii...

"You'll get used to it. And get along with each other. It was just the same for me."

She bent down to clear away the remaining rubble from the trapped villager as Jaggy pulled him out. The older man pushed himself into a sitting position.

"Th- thank you."

"No problem. You'll be alright, don't worry."

"Hey!"

Maeko turned as she heard a voice behind her. A tall, burly man was hobbling towards her. Behind him walked a dozen others, looking bruised and battered and dirty, but otherwise alright.

"We saw what happened. Thank you for protecting our people." The man spoke first to her, then directly at Jaggy. Maeko smiled slightly, feeling proud of the sixteenth seat.

"It's nothing, only our job."

"We've managed to account for almost everyone, it wouldn't have been possible if that hollow were still alive. We'd be picked off one by one."

"It won't bother you again." Maeko smiled at the man, and the other villagers who were looking at her curiously. "There isn't much left for us to do here, Jaggy."

[Jaggy-J Yamato]

"So, we can go back and take rest ? I'm actually exhausted now.

And it's alright, it is our duty to protect you people. We can't let those hollows trouble your lives here"

"So if you are planning to go back, I'm telling you in advance to stop somewhere to eat."

Duly noted !!!

[Maeko Saionji]

After a look at the villagers, Maeko nodded.

"We'll go. Good luck." She directed the last part at the leader of the village.

"Thank you."

"Let's go Jaggy."

She couldn't quash the feeling of satisfation that swirled around in her stomach, at the success the mission had been. No casualties. And a new shikai discovered.

"We'll have to go back and report. You've done well today Jaggy, well done."

She turned and began back towards Seireitei.